UK broadband altnets call for telecoms to be at heart of growth agenda

The UK government must give broadband and telecoms the political attention and clear ministerial ownership they deserve, with clear ministerial responsibility for the digital infrastructure underpinning artificial intelligence (AI), public services and economic growth, says the Independent Networks Cooperative Association (Inca).

The call by the trade body for the UK’s independent broadband providers (altnets) follows the government’s decision to scrap the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and new prime minister Andy Burnham’s decision to reorganise science and technology. This will see responsibilities previously held by the department divided between the new Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade; Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport; and the Cabinet Office.

Inca warns that separating these closely connected policy areas could create uncertainty over who is ultimately responsible for the country’s digital infrastructure, including broadband delivery, digital inclusion, telecoms security and network resilience.

“While changes in the machinery of government come and go, the question that really matters is whether anyone in government still oversees the whole picture,” said Inca chief executive Paddy Paddison. “Telecoms cannot be treated as one sectoral issue among many. It is the delivery mechanism for almost everything this government wants to achieve, from introducing AI across public services to strengthening the resilience of our health, energy and water systems.

“Every home, business, school and GP surgery needs access to a fast, reliable and low-latency connection. The slower and less complete our national network is, the slower and less complete our economic progress will be.”

Based on data from the January 2026 edition of the Connected nations study from UK communications regulator Ofcom, full-fibre broadband is rapidly being rolled out around the UK, and full-fibre is now available to 24.9 million UK residential premises, 82% of the UK’s 30.5 million homes, corresponding to an additional 1.2 million homes with access to full-fibre in the six months up to January 2026.

In the same six-month period, the take-up of full-fibre broadband connections at all UK premises – both residential and commercial – increased by 1.8 million, reaching 12.4 million. This corresponded to 47% of all premises with access to full-fibre. Gigabit-capable broadband availability increased to 89% (27.1 million homes), up from 87% (26.4 million) in July 2025. Independent network operators passed 19.7 million UK premises by the end of 2025, including almost 4.4 million premises in harder-to-reach areas.

However, despite this growth, and increasing deployment as part of Project Gigabit, its programme for connecting hard-to-reach communities, Inca notes that this still leaves more than three million homes without access, many of which are among the most difficult and expensive premises to connect.

“The government must not assume that the broadband roll-out is effectively complete or that one dominant operator will finish the job on its own,” said Paddison. “The final part of the roll-out will be the most difficult. It includes many of the rural and underserved communities that are already at greatest risk of being excluded from employment, education, healthcare and essential public services.”

Inca called on the government to appoint a minister with clear responsibility for broadband and telecoms, and to keep gigabit delivery, digital inclusion, network resilience and competition connected in the government’s wider economic strategy. It warned that a return to a market dominated by a single network would mean less competition, less innovation and, ultimately, worse outcomes for consumers and businesses.

It also urged ministers to complete Project Gigabit and address practical barriers that continue to slow network deployment, including Physical Infrastructure Access, wayleaves and access to multi-dwelling units.

“As mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham described digital connectivity as a basic human right and set an ambition for the city-region to become fully digitally enabled,” said Paddison. “Our ask is that he now applies that same standard to the whole country.

“Telecoms are the backbone of the modern economy. The new prime minister must not ignore this cornerstone industry, and needs to establish clear political accountability and give the sector the attention it deserves.”